Radio Derby names building after Colin Bloomfield

BBC Radio Derby is to name its building in St Helen’s Street after former breakfast show presenter Colin Bloomfield.

It’s a tribute from station bosses who want to remember their colleague who died from skin cancer last year at the age of 33.

Colin’s mother, Alison, has been invited to unveil the new name of the building next month, a year after Colin died.

In his ten years with the station Colin was a reporter, commentator and presenter. It was during his time as presenter of the breakfast show that he was diagnosed with stage four melanoma. The news of Colin’s illness provoked a huge response from listeners with whom he shared the progress of his treatment.

Colin lent his name to the Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal which has raised more than £152,000. In its first phase it concentrated on making Derbyshire and East Staffordshire ‘sun safe’ by spreading the message about the dangers of the sun to schoolchildren across the area. The charity plans to provide shades to protect people from the sun in two Derbyshire Parks. It will also provide sun meters which advise people on what action to take depending on the strength of the sun, such as going into the shade or putting on sun cream.

“We talk about Colin every day” said BBC Radio Derby Editor Simon Cornes, “and the appeal in his name serves as a remarkable legacy.

“But we wanted to do something here at BBC Radio Derby which would be a permanent tribute to a very special man. Colin spent so much time here working on his programmes that we thought it would be really fitting to name the building after him.

“It will mean a great deal to everyone here to come to work each day in Bloomfield House.”

The building, which is currently simply 56 St Helen’s Street, has been home to Radio Derby since it opened almost forty-five years ago.